Once negotiations are fully completed, event likely to return Jan. 12

Dustin Christmann, takes a selfie in front of the giant Quaker Oats bowl before his race at the 2018 Oatmeal Festival. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

Lafayette Chamber of Commerce officials announced Monday that the city's famed Oatmeal Festival — previously said to be abandoned after the event's biggest sponsor, Quaker Oats Co., pulled its sponsorship over financial concerns — will return in January.

"We are happy to announce that Quaker has decided to renew their commitment to the Lafayette Oatmeal Festival and will again be sponsoring the event" on Jan. 12, Pat Vero, the chamber's director of events and marketing, said in a statement. "Put the date on your calendar."

The announcement comes after a week of renewed negotiations with Quaker, which cited "tightening budgets and shifting priorities" when it decided to withdraw its sponsorship last month.

It's unclear what the negotiations were focused on — Vero declined to comment on the matter until talks are finalized, or specify if the company would be revising its contributions upon a return — and Quaker officials could not be reached Monday because of the Columbus Day holiday.

Vero also said Monday that negotiations were "95 percent finalized," and that she was "letting other sponsors and people involved know" of the news, adding that despite that slight ambiguity, the chances of the event's return look "really, really good."

The event had seen "record numbers" in recent years, Vero said last month. In addition to the popular Oatmeal Breakfast, the festival also boasted a 5K walk/run, and, an addition to the 2018 event, two Ninja Warrior Courses.

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The festival took its roots in Lafayette in the '90s and has consistently drawn thousands of Coloradans in years since.

"I believe the community had a lot to do with (the festival's return)," Vero said. "I believe a lot of people contacted Quaker — they got back to me and said they wanted to negotiate more."

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